Tap for ale-casks.



No. 694,286. Patented Feb. 2'5, |902. J.,KENNEY.

TAP FDR ALE CASKS.

. (Apumion mea sapeu so. 190x.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES p PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES KENNEY, 0F HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

vTAP.FoRALE-IGASKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 694,286, dated February 25, 1902.

Application iiled September 30, 1901. Serial No. 77,022. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, JAMES KENNEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Tap for Ale-Casks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in taps for barrels or casks, and ale-casks in particular, in which a peculiarly-constructed tap having one or more valve-provided branches or arms is adapted to be driven into one cask and to be connected by its arm with other casks, all as hereinafter fully described and especially claimed. VThistap is more particularly applicable for use in connection with casks containing ale, because of the presence thereinof sufficient initial gas-pressure to bring about the desired results and insure the proper working of the device.

The objects of my improvement are, iirst, to provide means for drawing lively ale without venting the casks containing the same, since venting causes an overilow and consequent waste and loss and when vented too much the ale is practically destroyed; second, to insure a saving of three gallons, more or less, .to the cask in consequence of nonventing; third, to afford means for presenting to the user better ale, with more sparkle and capable of retaining its sparkle longer, than has been commonly done heretofore, and, fourth,to furnish an inexpensive, strong,

and durable device for the above-mentioned Y purposes which saves both time and labor. This device enables one in drawing ale to take advantage of the natural or initial gaspressure contained in the liquid when originally coniined without resorting to water or other pressure subsequently introduced and which is always greatly detrimental to said liquid. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a side view of my tap; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig'. 3, a horizontal sectional view on lines X X, Fig. 1, looking down, one of the valve-plugs being in section; and Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view on lines y y, Fig. 2, a valve-plug also being shown in section here.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The tap comprises, essentially, a main body a, arms b extending laterally therefrom, certain peculiarly-arranged internal valves and auxiliary members and parts presently to be described, said body having a passage extending longitudinally through the same and other independent passages opening into horizontal passages in said arms. At the top of the body a externally are laterally extending wings c c and a lug d. The wings c are designed to receive the blows with which the tap is driven into a cask, and the lower portion of the body ct is made tapering in the usual manner by preference to facilitate the driving process and form a tight joint. Four arms b are shown; but more or less than that number may be employed. The outer ends of the arms b are preferably screw-threaded .both internally and externally., A central vertical passage e extends through the body a, opening through the top and bottom of the same. The upper part of the passage e is enlarged to form a chamber e for the accommodation of a valve f, which is normally seated at c" by the pressure exerted by a notched lever g and ball h, one end of said lever being pivoted to the lug d at g'. The valve f is of the ordinary winged construction and has a slottedV post f' to receive the lever g, a split pin 7l passing through said post above said lever.l l

It is not expected that the pressure below the valve f will ever be great enough to lift the lever and ball but these, with said valve, may be raised by hand whenever it is desired to relieve or decrease said pressure. These members give perfect control of the apparatus.

In each arm bis a passage or chamber j, and an independent passage la in the body a opens at one end into said chamber and at the other end through the bottom of said body. There are as many passages 7c as there are arms b, and each is quite independent of any other passage k or the passage e. The passages k are vertical for the greater part of their length and then turn outward to open into the chambers j.

Secured in the end of each arm b is a hollow plug Z, having at its inner end a Valve- IOO seat Z. (Best shown in Fig. 3.) A Winged valve m operates freely in each plug l, the movement inward being limited by a pin n, projecting from the winged shank of said valve into a slotj, Fig. 4:. Slots Z are provided in the plugs l to receive the key-wrench employed to screw them into place when they are united with the arms b in this manner.

In practice the body a is driven into a cask of ale, as before stated, and other casks of ale, which may for the sake of convenience be termed auxiliary casks, are connected by pipes with a corresponding number of arms b, none of said casks being vented. A cap ois screwed over the end of any arm b which is not connected with a cash, thus practically throwing that arm out of action, the device operating just as it would if constructed without said arm. Now as long as the cask that carries the tap is fullior the pressure therein greater than that'in the other or auxiliary casks the valves Z must remain closed, as shown in Fig. 4; but the instant the pressure in the iirst cask falls `below that in any one or more of said auxiliary casks the corresponding valves Z are forcedA inward, as shown in Fig. 3, and the ale flows from the auxiliary cask or casks just mentioned into said first cask until it is again full or the preponderance of the pressure therein is restored, when said valves are again closed by being forced ontw-ard.

An ordinary faucet placed below my tap may be used to draw the ale from the first cask, and when too much gas accumulates therein it is.only necessary to elevate the valvef for an instant in the manner hereinbefore explained, an operation that permits some of the gas to escape through the passage e, and thus relieves the undue pressure.

It will now be readily understood that my tap serves as a concentrator or accumulator, and said tap always produces or is the medium by which is produced an even and constant pressure in the concentrating or accumulating caslc regardless of the difference in degree of pressure in the different auxiliary casks, owing to the fact that the valves m are independent of each other and are located in separate passages.

Of course minor changes in shape, size,

construction, and location of the parts maybe made without departing from the nature of my invention.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a tap, of a body having a longitudinal passage e extending Y through the same and independent passages 7c extending alongside said passage e, and chambered arms into which said passages 7a open at their upper ends, with a valve in the upper terminal of the passage e, and other valves suitably arranged in the arms, having their inward movement so limited as to leave the openings into adjacent passages 7c clear, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a tap, of a body having a-longitudinal passage c extending through the same and independent passages l.: extending alongside said passage e, and chambered arms into which said passages 7a open at their upper ends, with a valve in the upper terminal of the passage e, means to normally close said valve, and other valves suitably arranged in the arms, having their inward movement so limited as to leave the openings into adjacent passages k clear, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a tap, of a body having a longitudinal passage e extending through the same and independent passages 7c extending alongside said passage e, and chambered arms into which said passages 7a open at their upper ends, with a valve in the upper terminal of the passage e, means to normally'close said valve, hollow plugs Z in said arms, valves in said plugs, and means to so limitthe inward movement of the plugvalves as to leave the openings into adjacent passages Zr clear, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a tap, of a body having a longitudinal passage c extending through the same and independent passages 7c ext-ending alongside said passage e, and chambered arms into which said passages k open at their upper ends, with a valve at the upper end ot' the passage e, a weighted lever bearing on said valve, and a valve in the chamber in each of said arms, adapted to -close or open the entrance thereto, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a body having a longitudinal passage extending through the same, and provided with laterally-extending chambered arms, independent passages being formed in said body to open through the lower terminal thereof and into the chambers in said arms, a valve in each of said chambers, and a cap adapted to close the outer end of any one of the arms, substantially as set forth.

(i. In combination, a body provided wit-h laterally-extending arms and external wings adapted to receive. the blows of a mallet or hammer, said body having passages therein opening through the upper and lower terminals thereof and through the outer terminals of said arms, said passages being independent of each other, and suitable valves arranged at the entrances of said passages, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES KENNEY.

Vitnesses:

S. SWEENEY, F. A. CUTTER.

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